Mini sandal



T. VLAS Ei'AL MINI SANDAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Oct. 27, 1967 FIG.4Q

FIGZ

INVENTORS PEGGY J.VLAS THEODORE VLAS BY Ma y W ATTORNEY JuTy 15, 1969 T. VLAS ETAL I 3,455,037

MINI SANDAL Filed Oct. 27, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS PEGGY J. VLAS THEODORE VLAS I 1.204% wmwi ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,455,037 MINI SANDAL Theodore Vlas and Peggy Joyce Vlas, Forestvllle, Md.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a multi-stylable sandal of the sole and strap type. A plurality of lateral passageways penetrates the sole and permits attachment of the sole to the wearer by interlooping a strap or thong via some or all of the passageways and the leg of the wearer. The forward lateral passageway includes a third opening in the form of avertical passageway in communication therewith such that the strap may be brought vertically between the large toe and the adjacent toe and/or the large toe interlooped. This permits a great latitude of arrangements for wrapping the strap around the foot, ankle, and/ or leg to the knee of the wearer.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention elongated pin means are employed within the forward passageway or at right angles thereto, which pin means has an upwardly extending portion extending into the vertical passageway for interlooping by the strap, adding further versatility to the invention.

The invention also may comprise a kit consisting of the above-identified components whereby the purchaser may style the sandals to his own taste. Numerous styles can be produced and duplicated thereafter at will.

In the manufacture of the present invention, the sole may comprise a single layer of leather or the like or may be fabricated from two or more cemented layers, thereby facilitating the incorporation of four lateral grooves, as well as the insertion of the strap to interloop either or both portions of the sole to the right and left of the vertical passage-way. It should be noted that the use of the fixing means, i.e., pin means enables ready interlooping of the strap with the sole via the vertical passageway. Also, it should be noted that rubber soles can be readily molded with the desired passageways predetermined. Other conventional materials may be for the sole and strap or thong.

With the foregoing in mind, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a unique sandal or sandal kit, stylable at will.

Another object is the provision of a sandal sole having lateral passageways and a single vertical passageway in communication with the forward lateral passageway thereby facilitating attachment of the sole to the wearer by virtue of strap means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a sole in combination with pin means disposed in or at right angles to the forward passageway with a portion thereof protruding upwardly into the vertical passageway to receive the binding strap or thong.

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description thereof when taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sole in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, also depicting portions of strap means for securing the sole to the wearer;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the sole of FIG. 1, better to show the passageways;

FIG. 2a is a view in side elevation of pin or fastening means suitable for use with the soles of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 3 is a 'view in front elevation to illustrate one 3,455,037 Patented July 15, 1969 "ice style of sandal with the straps extending toward the knee to bind the sandal to the wearer;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged view of a suitable decoration for the sandal of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation to show one arrangement for an ankle-high sandal;

FIG. 4a is a view in front elevation for a suitable decoration for this type sandal;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another arrangement showing the looping of the large toe by the strap; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a simplified style showing the use of the vertical slot between the large toe and the adjacent toe.

-In FIG. 1 the sandal is shown as comprising the sole 1 which, in this embodiment, comprises a single layer of leather, rubber, or usual compositions employed for soles and it may be employed with or without a heel. In either event, the sole comprises a body member contoured generally to the outline of a conventional sole. Preferably, the sole is approximately /8 to /2 inch in thickness in order to accommodate the lateral slots 2, preferably four in number, as illustrated. These slots may be identified as the first or forward slot, second, third, and fourth slot, proceeding from front to rear, and in general, the drawings of FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 show the versatility of styling enabled by the provision of four slots, the elongated strap 5 passing through various combinations of passageways 2 in binding the sole 1 to the wearers foot.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a vertical opening 3, which communicates with the forward passageway 2. This opening is disposed between the large toe and the adjacent toe in order that the strap 5 may pass upwardly between the toes in the binding arrangement.

FIG. 5 shows the large toe interlooped for a unique design through the use of opening or passageway 3.

Another embodiment of the invention employs the bent pin 4 of FIG. 2a to extend the versatility and to facilitate attachment of strap 5 with the sole 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bent pin 4 is disposed in slot 2 with the bend or semicircular region extending upwardly into slot 3. This orientation enables the strap 5 to interloop pin 4, and attach the sole 1 to the users leg or foot. The strap material may be flexible to interloop the pin 4 but should not be stretchable.

To facilitate manufacture, particularly where nonmoulded type sandals are made, it is possible to manufacture the sole 1 from two pieces of material, such as leather, one (1a) of which having grooves in the form of passageways 2 cut therein and the other (lower one [1b] in FIG. 2) being prefectly fiat to close the grooves and form the passageways 2, when glued to the upper member 1a.

In FIG. 3 the strap or thong 5 may interloop the pin 4 (FIG. 2), near the middle of the strap and then fasten the users leg to the rearward portion of the sandal sole 1 by using selected ones of the second, third, and fourth passageways 2, the ends of the thong or strap are then brought together and tied near the knee and a decorative disk or ball 6 may be added for further styling.

The sandal of FIG. 4 is of a shorter variety and may employ the inter-looping of pin 4 along with the interlooping of one of the rear two passageways 2 for fastening the sandal to the user. The flower 6' is shown as a decoration added at a different location.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show other designs facilitated by the versatility of the basic sole of this invention and the kit owner may create designs or other innovations to his own styling.

Since further modifications of the invention within the principles herein taught such as the elimination of the flowers or other decoration and the use of heavier straps for more masculine appearing straps make the sandal suitable for the male wearer, may occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the description presented, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in making a sandal, a sole comprising a body member contoured generally to the outline of a conventional sole; said body member having a plurality of lateral passageways extending therethrough in spaced apart relation; said sole further having a vertical passageway in communication with the forward one of said passageways and spaced from opposed edges of the sole unequally to dispose the vertical passageway adjacent to the inner side of the larg toe of the user, pin means having an upwardly protruding portion disposed in the body member with said portion protruding upwardly in the vertical passageway to provide a connecting loop afiixed to the sole.

2. The sole of claim 1 wherein said body member comprises an upper and a lower sole portion; said passageways comprising grooves in one of said sole portions; said grooves being closed by the other sole portion to make the passageways; and means affixing the two sole portions together.

3. A kit comprising the sole of claim 1; and elongated strap means dimensioned to interloop said passageway and extend through the vertical passageway; and said strap being sufliciently flexible as to interloop said portion of the pin means via the vertical passage.

4. For use in making a sandal, a sole comprising a body member having upper and lower surfaces and opposed edges and being contoured generally to the outline of a conventional sole including a shaped toe portion; said body member having a plurality of lateral passageways extending therethrough intermediate said surfaces, and in longitudinally spaced relation; said sole further having a vertical passageway extending inwardly from the upper surface only and in communication with that one of said passageways adjacent to the toe portion of said body member, and spaced from the opposed edges of the sole unequally to dispose the vertical passageway adjacent to the inner side of the large toe of the user.

5. The sole of claim 4 further comprising fixing means including an upwardly protruding loop forming portion in operative connection with the body member with said loop defining portion protruding upwardly of said one passageway via the vertical passageway to form connecting loop means aflixed to the sole.

6. A kit comprising the sole of claim 4; and elongated strap means dimensioned to interloop said passageways and to extend through the vertical passageway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,088,309 2/1914 Weidt 36l 1.5 2,590,648 3/1952 Pitz 361l.5 3,121,962 2/1964 Gullo 3611.5

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

